West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship

The recent Autosport International (9-12 January) was a busy time for the organising team for West Wales Rally Spares RAC Rally Championship, with extensive competitor interest in the championship. Among a gaggle of crews confirming their 2014 plans were some familiar faces and some crews new to the championship.

Bob Gibbons/Dale Gibbons

Bob Gibbons will have his son Dale co-driving for the first time this season as they field Bobs rapid Ford Cortina Mk2 GT on R.A.C. Rally Championship rounds. They will join the ever-growing field of cars in Category 1.

Dale (29) will take over the seat vacated by Stuart Cardell, who has retired to Italy. Dale and his brother James have been going rallying with their dad since they were youngsters.

I like what the guys are doing with the R.A.C. Championship, said the South Wales driver. We want to run the Cortina in the championship and we think weve got the car sorted now. Dale now lives and works in Manchester and hes going to sit with me for a few events, said Bob who has been rallying for nearly 40 years.

John Baker/Seyyan John

John Baker plans to contest the four events in the Welsh Challenge in his Pinto-powered Ford Escort Mk2 with Seyyan John co-driving. He then hopes to tackle the three rounds of the Northern Challenge with another co-driver. Im planning to do all seven events, said the driver from North Shropshire.

The R.A.C. Championship ticks all the boxes for me, said Baker, who does most of his own preparation work. That car means a lot to me: Ive put a lot into it!

Terry Brown/Den Golding

Welsh rallying veterans Terry Brown and Den Golding will renew an old partnership this season when they team up to contest the R.A.C. Rally Championship in Browns Ford Escort Mk2.

With a combined age of 136 they will probably be the oldest crew in the championship, but will still be very competitive.

They plan to do the four rounds of the Welsh Challenge and possibly more, although Golding will miss the Neath Valley Stages as he is clerk of the course for the event.

Im looking forward to getting back alongside Terry, said Golding. Weve done about 20 events together over the years. Is there a prize for the oldest crew?

Ken Sturdy

Planning to join the championship trail for the Tour of Hamsterley is Ken Sturdy.

Nearly 20 years after he last rallied a Ford Escort, Hull-based Ken is returning to rallying a Mk2 after acquiring the ex-Stuart Clarke car last used by Melvyn Evans on the 2013 Neath Valley Stages.

I’am 50 in June so thought Id better up my game a bit before Im past it, said Sturdy. The last time I campaigned an Escort was in 1995 on airfield events. I wish Id kept the car as it would be worth ten times what I sold it for! He will focus his efforts on the Northern Challenge this season.

The West Wales Rally Spares R.A.C. Rally Championship is the only championship that runs historics first on the road on all events with the 2014 Championship starting on the Red Kite Stages on Sunday 2 February and more details are available from www.redkitestages.co.uk

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